Last with insole retaining device



Aug. 29, 1967 A. MaCPHERSON 3,337,888

LAST WITH INSOLE RETAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

w/rrggw o m I F Aug. 29, 19 67 v v MaCPHERsoN I 3,337,888 I LAST WITH INSOLE RETAINING DEVICE 3 Shets-Sheet a "Filed 'Aug. 22, 1966 United States Patent 3,337,888 LAST WITH INSOLE RETAINING DEVICE Allan MacPlierson, 14 Park Road, Brockton, Mass. 02401 Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,021 8 Claims. (Cl. 12-141) This invention comprises a new and improved last having a pronged device for retaining an insole or a tuck whereby the use of insole tacks is eliminated in the shoemaking process. The invention has an important field of use in the manufacture of hand sewn shoes but is of course of general application.

It has been the custom to secure an insole tuck to the last bottom by tacks driven through the heel seat of the tuck and other tacks driven through its shank portion into the forepart of the last. In practice the forepart surface of the last becomes pitted and damaged so that tacks will not hold therein. Also since some of the tacks are covered by the overlasted margin of the upper it is difllcult to reach them for removal so that the operator must cut off their heads and trust to pulling the point through the tuck when the last is being removed. For one of these reasons or the other tacks are frequently left in the finished shoe to the great discomfort of the purchaser and embarrassment to the dealer.

The present invention obviates this dilficulty by furnishing a pronged retaining device constructed and arranged to be fitted transversely in the shank portion of a hinged last. It thus presents a row of upstanding prongs upon which the insole or tuck may be impaled. These prongs are effective to hold the tuck securely against displacement during the shoemaking process and will drop out of the way when the last is broken for removal of the upper.

In its preferred form the prong retaining device includes an elongated body shaped to be fitted into the last with prongs projected upwardly in position to penetrate into the shank portion of the tuck. The body of the retaining device may take the form of a cylindrical or rectangular spindle designed to fit into a transverse bore or channel formed at or near the contacting faces of the heel and forepart of the last. Thus the device is held firm by action of the last hinge spring and is free to drop out when the last is broken preparatory to being closed again for relasting and ensuing operations.

As herein shown the prong device has an elongated spindle which is rotatably mounted in one part of the last and in the other part of the last recesses are provided to receive and conceal the prongs when the device is not operative. When the prongs are located for penetrating the insole or tuck they are held securely in operative position by the clamping action of the last hinge links.

In dealing with a full length insole the pronged device may be supplemented by one or more forepart pins pivotally mounted to collapse and permit withdrawal of the last after the lasting step of the process.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the last showing the prongs in upright operative position,

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view in side elevation with the addition of an insole shown in longitudinal section,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing difierent postions of the pronged device,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tip of the last on the line 77 of FIG. 1, shown with the addition of the enclosing parts of a shoe upper,

3,337,888 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views of the tip prong and adjacent parts, and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the last process of removal from a lasted upper. The last as herein shown comprises a forepart 10 and a heel part 11 connected by the usual hinge pin 12 and maintained with contacting faces engaged under powerful spring pressure of a hinge link 39. The heel portion of the last is shown as provided with a steel heel plate 13 and with a thi-mble 14 as is usual.

The last is prepared for the reception of the prong retaining device by a transverse bore 15- which is drilled in the heel portion of the last offset rearwardly a short distance from its contacting face. A sleeve or tube 16 is secured by forced fit in the bore 15 and within this sleeve is journaled an elongated spindle or rod 17. The right hand end of the bore as seen in FIG. 3 is closed by a plug 18 which is fitted smoothly into the contour of the last. A series of sole retaining prongs 19 is set in the spindle 17 and provided with roughened gripping surfaces. A torsion spring 20 is connected at one end to the spindle 17 and at the other to a screw 21 which is passed through the sleeve 16. The spring 20 is biased at all times to turn the spindle 17 with its prongs in counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 4-6. Clearance for the prongs is provided by saw cuts 22 extending through the last and also the sleeve 16. The prongs 19 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in their erect operative position ready to penetrate a tuck or insole when the latter is presented to the last bottom. In FIG. 6 the spindle 17 is shown as being turned by a hook 23 against tension of the spring 20 in clockwise direction to bring the prongs 19 into operative position.

A series of recesses 24 is formed in the forepart of the last, one recess opposite each of the prongs 19. The recesses 24 open through the contact wall of the forepart of the last in position to receive and conceal the prongs 19 whenever the two parts of the last are sepafited to clear the prongs as suggested in FIG. 6. When the last is closed with the prongs in their retracted position as shown in FIG. 5 there is nothing to indicate their presence but the saw cuts 22.

When the shoemaker is ready to attach a tuck or insole to the last he has only to erect the prongs 19 as suggested in FIG. 6 by his hand or a hook 23 and then close the last whereupon a projecting portion of each prong engages the contact face of the forepart of the last as shown in FIG. 4 and the prong is held in that position by the spring pressure of the last link 12. The tuck or insole may now be securely fastened to the bottom of the last by merely pressing it down sufficiently to cause the prongs 19 to penetrate it.

In FIG. 2 the last is shown as already equipped with a full Goodyear insole 40. The shank portion of the sole is particularly well held by the transverse row of spaced prongs 19. However in some cases it is desirable to supplement this attaching means by one or more toe prongs 33 set in the forepart or tip of the last. To that end a circular recess is formed in the last bottom and is lined with a short metal casing 30. A rocker 32 is journaled in this casing and provided with an upstanding prong 33. A wire spring 34 extends upwardly at one side of the casing and then forwardly above the rocker 32. The spring 34 is provided with a loop as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 which engages the prong 33 and holds it yieldingly in upright position as shown in FIG. 7. The insole 40 is impaled upon this prong thus, in cooperation with the prongs 19 ensuring secure holding of the insole during the operation of lasting the upper. The recess 30 is closed by a circular cover plate 31 slotted to permit'movement of the prong 33 from its upright position as shown in FIG. 7 to a forwardly inclined position such as shown in FIG. 11 when the last 10 is moved rearwardly and outwardly of the lasted upper after the welt sewing operation. The conventional welt seam is indicated in FIG. 11 together with a layer of'bottom filler 41 which is applied before the outsole is presented.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A last having hinged torepart and heel part, spring means tending at all times to hold together contacting faces of the said parts, a pronged device having an elongated spindle journaled in one part of the last and having projecting prongs arranged to enter and become concealed in recesses provided for that purpose in the other part of the last when the spindle is turned in one direction and to project in a row beyond the last bottom when the spindle is turned in the other direction.

2. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the said spindle extends transversely across the last and the prongs project in a transverse row.

3. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that a torsion spring is provided tending always to turn the spindle into prong-concealed position.

4. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the said spindle is journaled in a bore formed in the heel portion of the last within the contacting face thereof.

5. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the forepart of the last is provided with prongreceiving recesses that open through its contacting face.

6. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the prongs that project in a row from the last bottom are supplemented by a prong mounted in the forepart of the last to rock from an upright position to a longitudinally inclined position by engagement with an insole when it is moved forwardly on the last bottom.

7. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the prongs are positively held in operative protruded position by engagement with the contacting face of the forepart in the closed last, and spring means are provided for automatically moving the prongs into inoperative position when the last is broken and the contact faces separated.

8. A last as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the spindle with its transverse row of prongs is arranged to rock in a transverse bore adjacent to the contacting faces of the two last parts and to conceal its prongs in cavities provided for that purpose in the adjacent connected part of the last.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,203,609 11/1916 Gordon 12-141 2,188,414 1/1940 McNeill 12136 2,528,082 10/1950 Rubico 12-136 X PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LAST HAVING HINGED FOREPART AND HEEL PART, SPRING MEANS TENDING AT ALL TO HOLD TOGETHER CONTACTING FACES OF THE SAID PARTS, A PRONGED DEVICE HAVING AN ELONGATED SPINDLE JOURNALED IN ONE PART OF THE LAST AND HAVING PROJECTING PRONGS ARRANGED TO ENTER AND BECOME CONCEALED IN RECESSES PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE IN THE OTHER PART OF THE LAST WHEN THE SPINDLE IS TURNED IN ONE DIRECTION AND TO PROJECT IN A ROW BEYOND THE LAST BOTTOM WHEN THE SPINDLE IS TURNED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. 